Most Expensive PEZ Dispenser

PEZ may be one of the most iconic candies of the modern era. Invented in 1927 by Viennese confectioner Eduard Hass III, the first PEZ flavor was peppermint. In fact, the name PEZ is derived from the German word Pfefferminze, meaning peppermint. The most remarkable aspect of PEZ candy, though, is the PEZ dispenser. These collectible dispensers often feature the heads of popular characters of the time sculpted in plastic, such as Mickey Mouse or Darth Vader. The most expensive PEZ dispenser, however, doesn’t feature a popular character at all. Instead, the dispenser is crowned with the sculpted head of an astronaut.

The 1982 World’s Fair PEZ dispenser is believed to be an extremely rare promotional item. In fact, only two are currently known to exist. One features a blue stem and an astronaut with a matching blue helmet. The other, featuring a green stem and white helmet, was at one point advertised for sale at $100,000. Most recently, it resurfaced on eBay in 2006 and sold for $32,205.

EBay may seem like an especially fitting context for the auction of the world’s most expensive PEZ dispenser, as an often-circulated rumor states that eBay was founded by Pierre Omidyar in order to help his girlfriend sell PEZ dispensers. Unfortunately for PEZ fans, such rumors are false. The first item Omidyar sold on eBay was actually a broken laser pointer.